Introduction
Cultural industries have really been improving and expanding for the past few years. This has mainly been contributed by the changing nature of technology. Entirely, the cultural industry deals with creativity in various fields such as publication, designs, music and film production. However the cultural industries tend to vary from one country to the other (Hesmondhalgh 2004, p. 59). For instance some countries regard advertising, sports and architecture as their cultural industries.
Irrespective of the cultural industry, all of them depend on new technologies and innovation to survive in the market. In other words, the cultural industries have a need to comply with technological aspects that keep on changing. Today for example there are new digital technologies that have really affected how cultural services and goods circulate in countries. As a result of this, many conglomerates have gone through impressive progressions in their industries.
In their unique nature, the cultural industries are gaining more popularity as they provide good art work and entertain people. Economically, these cultural industries generate a lot of revenue to their countries as they help in attracting tourists (Hesmondhalgh 2004, p. 121). Due to much creativity, these industries are able to provide very admirable goods and services. In order to achieve good production, there must also be employees who are committed to their work.
Unfortunately, these employees are sometimes affected negatively by the technological factors. Thus, the technological factors usually alter employment patterns of many employees. It is because of such reasons why trade unions are formed within a country. The objective of this paper is to discuss about music industry and show how new technologies affect employment patterns and conditions. The paper also addresses the importance of trade unions in defending the rights of the workers in that industry.
Cultural Industries
Cultural industries are drastically going through advance technologies that alter the way they operate. Depending on a given country, the cultural industries are based on either tangible or intangible works of art. Considering its diversity, cultural industries include music, film, architecture, video and advertising. According to Hesmondhalgh, the production within cultural industries is surrounded by many limitations (Hesmondhalgh 2004, p. 34).
Capital accumulation is one of the major problems that affect cultural industries. This applies to cultural industries that use distinctive forms of industrial fabrication and planning to create and propagate symbols. Regardless of having substantial marketing and promotion, these capital accumulations are still bound to occur. According to sociologists, the cultural goods have comparatively high production costs although they realize low reproduction costs.
As such, there is a high ratio between production and reproduction which normally results to un-proportional profitability. With such kind of irregularities, it is very important for cultural industries to have their own policies. In line with this, there are government policies that regulate the way cultural industries are run. Because of diverse governments, these policies tend to vary from one country to the other (Buchloh2000, p. 54).
As a way of implementing industrial policies, the government of United Kingdom decided to fund cultural industries. By doing this, many art productions were able e to improve and expand gradually. On the other hand, Britain during 1980s had a particular organization which was known as Greater London Council (GLC). Greater London Council was concerned with reviving industrial policies as it advocated for commercialized forms of culture. Thus, the GLC wanted to recognize the importance of commercialized culture in this modern world. Owing to this notion, the cultural industries have really transformed to modern technologies.
As modern commercialization intensifies, there is need for cultural industries to adapt new technological changes (Hesmondhalgh 2004, p. 78). It is very essential for these industries to acclimatize with new technologies since their market is very competitive. Surviving and progressing in this industry would require more creativity as new techniques are introduced. Artists therefore are flexible to adapt new inventions as they do not want to be left behind. Naturally, people are always talented in various fields though they still have to work according to the prevailing technologies. Much as someone might be talented, it is important to be familiarized with the technologies (Buchloh, 2000, p. 44).
Apparently technological changes can alter employment in the cultural industry. The alteration may affect employment negatively or positively depending on the cultural industry. There are some technologies that can increase more employment opportunities while others may only decrease the opportunities. Since technological changes have lead to expansion of some cultural industries more people are usually employed in various sectors. For instance, some expansions are normally extended to other countries where the industries can do much better (Caves, 2000, p. 85). As a result of this, more employment opportunities are promoted even to foreign countries. On the other hand, technological changes can lead to unemployment within a particular cultural industry. This means that some changes may reduce job opportunities for several people.
The Music Industry
The music industry is a vast area which involves a wide range of groups like artists, manufacturers, producers, engineers and retailers. In most cases, these groups of people depend on one another as they work to prosper in the music industry. For example, music artists rely on producers to help them produce different kind of songs. Similarly, producers depend on music engineers who are basically responsible for solving technical problems. Producing music is not an easy task as it is bound to face technological problems. It is for this reason why music engineers have to be available during the production (Caves, 2000, p. 90).
Because of several technological changes, employment in the music industry has been altered in one way or the other. Businesses people in the industry are facing some challenges that often make others to quit their jobs. Actually, selling music DVDs and CDs is proving to be non- profitable for such businessmen. This is contributed by the fact that new technologies have made it possible for individuals to download music. Invention of the internet is one of the major reasons why employment in the industry has been altered. According to statistics, many individuals prefer getting music through the internet rather than purchasing them from music venders.
If this kind of impact is on venders, then musicians must be suffering the most. Seemingly musicians usually spend a lot of money for them to produce a song. Some of them are also employers as they may need back up team for their music. In a nut shell, if the musicians are not able to get good sales from their music, it might be difficult to pay all the expenses (Caves, 2000, 52). Employing back up team can also be altered since there might not be enough money to pay them. Such alteration is primarily caused by new technologies that enable some individuals to download songs without any charges.
In line with this, piracy is a common issue which threatens the music industry. Through new inventions particularly with the computer, pirates can acquire different types of music they want. Irrespective of these irregularities the music industry is still offering job opportunities to very many people. In the recent years, recording music has become much easier due to invention of various technologies. As such, many aspiring musicians are attracted to the industry where they can explore their talent.
Trade Unions
In the world of employment, it is very essential to have trade unions which normally protect the rights of employees. Even in the music industry, the rights of musicians, producers and many more should be protected. Having mentioned some problems in the industry, it is a responsibility for trade unions to ensure that the rights of musicians are protected (Cook 2007, p.102). Trade union is therefore an avenue which employees can use to air out their views. The trade unions can also help employees to improve their living standards. Presenting a problem as an individual to the right authority is normally impossible for many employees.
Instead such problems are often solved to represent a group of several employees who are treated as one entity. It is at this juncture where trade union comes in to handle the challenges facing employees. Generally, most employees are affected by challenges like poor working conditions, low payment and lack of social protection. Employees should be treated with respect but not to intimidate them (Cook 2007, p. 87).
Some of these employees are living below the poverty levels and yet they are still loyal to their employers. Clearly this is so unfair to people who work hard in their respective work places. They do not deserve to suffer at the expense of their employers who are benefiting from them. Containing such problems is always difficult and that why employees use trade unions to voice their grievances. Trade unions have been helpful when it comes to solving employees grievances. The cultural industry is not left behind as it also gets assistance from trade unions (Beck 2005, p. 71).
As a matter of fact, this industry is surrounded by so many challenges. Artists in the cultural industry are usually faced by much bigger problems. For example musicians always come across producers who might manipulate them and destroy their music carriers. Selling DVDs within country can be challenging if there are government laws that do not encourage a particular music. Thanks to trade unions that can deal with these types of problems (Beck 2005, p. 33).
Conclusion
The cultural industry is a very important sector which is currently going through various changes. These changes have mainly been caused by new technologies that are even altering employment opportunities. The industry itself is very wide as it consists of various fields such as publication, designs, music and film production. In order to survive in the industry, it is essential for artists to adapt to new technological changes (Cook 2007, p. 43).
The music industry is one sector that is usually affected by these technological changes. This has led to alteration of employment opportunities in the industry. Technological changes have either promoted more job opportunities or have led to a decrease in employment. With so many challenges facing several industries, there are trade unions which are normally created. Trade unions are responsible for ensuring that the rights of employees are protected.
Reference List
Beck., A., 2005, Cultural work: Understanding the cultural industries. London: Routledge.
Buchloh, B., 2000. Neo- Advantage and culture industry: Essays on European and American Art from 1955 to 1975. London: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Caves, R., 2000, Creative industries: contracts between art and commerce. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Cook, D., 2007, The culture industry revisited: Theodor W. Adorno mass culture. US: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, INC.
Hesmondhalgh, D., 2004,The cultural industries. London: Sage Publications Ltd.